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Assault Charges In Domestic Dispute

WEST OCEAN CITY – An Ocean City man was arrested on assault and disorderly conduct charges last weekend after allegedly striking his girlfriend after a dispute in a West Ocean City bar.

Shortly after midnight last Sunday, Maryland State Police troopers responded to a residence on Old Bridge Rd. in West Ocean City for a reported assault in progress. Upon arrival, officers found the alleged victim sitting at her kitchen table in the residence. The victim told police the father of her children, identified as Adrian Ricardo Reinoso, 35, of Ocean City, had assaulted her after the couple had left the bar.

The victim sustained injuries to her face and left arm and was taken by Ocean City EMS to Atlantic General Hospital for treatment. Reinoso was arrested and charged with second-degree assault and disorderly conduct. He was taken before a District Court Commissioner and ordered held on an $8,000 bond. He was later released after posting bond.

Shoplifters Busted

WEST OCEAN CITY – A pair of Salisbury residents were arrested on felony theft charges last week after allegedly swiping over $2,000 in merchandize from several stores in the Ocean City Factory Outlets and the adjacent White Marlin Mall.

Shortly before 1:30 p.m. last Wednesday, Maryland State Police troopers from the Berlin barrack responded to the White Marlin Mall in West Ocean City for a reported theft. Upon arrival, the troopers met with a witness who had observed a male suspect stealing items from the Dollar General store. The witness said the suspect left the area in a green mini-van driven by a female and provided a tag number for the vehicle.

Troopers than observed the suspect vehicle in the area of Routes 50 and 589 and initiated a traffic stop. The driver of the vehicle, identified as Terri Lynn Bivans, 29, of Salisbury, told police she had dropped the male suspect off at a nearby gas station. The male suspect, later identified as Dexter Alfonso Kess, Sr., 55, of Salisbury, was located a short time later. Witnesses identified both Bivans and Kess as the suspects in the alleged thefts at the Dollar General.

Both Bivans and Kess were arrested and charged with theft over $500 and theft scheme over $500. They were taken to the Berlin barrack where they admitted conducting thefts at various stores in the White Marlin Mall and the Ocean City Factory Outlets including the Gap Outlet, Bass Outlet, Bath and Body Works, Radio Shack and Dollar General. The stolen items were valued at roughly $2,200.

Bivans and Kess were taken before a District Court Commissioner who ordered them held on $5,000 bonds. They were later released.

Hooded Suspects Burglarize Vehicles

WEST OCEAN CITY – Maryland State Police this week are looking for two suspects in connection with a theft from a vehicle in a West Ocean City neighborhood last Saturday.

Around 12:15 a.m. last Saturday, MSP troopers responded to a residence on Queen’s Circle in West Ocean City for a reported theft from a vehicle. The investigation revealed two male juveniles wearing dark hooded sweatshirts had gained access to the victim’s unlocked vehicle and stole a lap-top computer and an Ipod. The victim yelled at the two suspects and they fled the scene, dropping the lap-top in the process.

Both suspects are described as juvenile males wearing hooded dark sweatshirts and blue jeans. One of the suspects was carrying a backpack. The two suspects fled on foot in the direction of the Oyster Harbor community. The MSP is urging all residents of the Queen’s Circle area to properly secure their vehicles overnight. Anyone with information about the theft is encouraged to call the MSP Berlin Barrack at 410-641-3101.

Traffic Stop Yields Pot Bust

BERLIN – A traffic stop for a routine equipment violation last week ended in an arrest for marijuana possession.

Around 2:20 a.m. last Wednesday, MSP troopers pulled over a white Lexus passenger car on Route 113 at Bays End Lane in Berlin for not having operational taillights. Upon contact with the driver, identified as Mary Elizabeth Stewart, 22, of Pocomoke, and detected an odor of marijuana. The trooper also observed marijuana seeds in the vehicle.

A search of the vehicle turned up nearly 18 grams of marijuana as well as two marijuana smoking devices. Stewart was arrested and charged with possession of marijuana and paraphernalia.

Vending Machine Vandals Sought

BERLIN – Maryland State Police this week are seeking the suspect or suspects who damaged a Coca-Cola vending machine and stole money from it at a Berlin business sometime last Friday.

Around 7:30 a.m. last Friday, MSP troopers responded to Rayne’s Sand and Gravel in Berlin for a reported malicious destruction of property and theft. Upon arrival, the troopers located the damaged Coke machine and learned an undetermined amount of money had been stolen. The crime occurred sometime between 5 p.m. on Thursday and 6 a.m. on Friday.

Increased patrols in the area will be conducted. Anyone with information about the incident is encouraged to contact the MSP Berlin barrack at 410-641-3101.

Head Basher Gets Jail Time

SNOW HILL – A Pennsylvania man arrested in February on drunk driving and other serious charges after bashing the hood of a state police cruiser with his head was found guilty this week in District Court of driving under the influence and malicious destruction of property and was sentenced to two years in jail.

Keith Stewart Reeves, 47, of New Tripoli, Pa., was in District Court in Snow Hill on Tuesday facing serious charges including threatening and assaulting an officer, disorderly conduct, malicious destruction of property and numerous traffic citations including driving under the influence all stemming from an incident near Ocean Pines on Feb. 25. Reeves was found guilty of malicious destruction of property and driving under the influence and was sentenced to two concurrent two-year jail terms and fined $500.

Shortly after 5 a.m. on Feb. 25, a Maryland State Police trooper responded to the area of Cathell Rd. and Racetrack Rd. for a citizen report about a suspected drunk driver. The trooper located the suspect vehicle heading east on Cathell Rd. The trooper got behind the vehicle, which stopped on the side of the road. When the driver, identified as Reeves, got out of the driver’s side door, he fell to the ground.

He was then arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence. According to police reports, Reeves was extremely belligerent and combative at the time of his arrest and at one point threw his head onto the hood of the trooper’s police cruiser, causing a dent. Reeves was offered medical treatment but refused. He continued to be very disruptive and belligerent throughout his arrest.

Probation For Shoplifter

SNOW HILL – An Easton woman arrested in January after getting caught stealing items from the Wal-Mart in Berlin was placed on probation for two years and fined $200 last week in District Court in Snow Hill.

Around 6:40 p.m. on Jan. 26, a Maryland State Police trooper responded to the Wal-Mart for a reported shoplifting. Upon arrival, the trooper made contact with the store manager, who told him the suspect, later identified as Barbara Suzanne Meier, of Easton, had left the store with $123 in merchandise.

Meier allegedly stole miscellaneous items including cosmetics, socks and a belt. She did pay $33 for some merchandize before leaving the store. Last week in District Court in Snow Hill, Meier pleaded not guilty to the charge of theft under $500 but was found guilty and placed on probation for two years. She was also fined $200.

Alleged Cop Assaulter Not Prosecuted

SNOW HILL – A Pennsylvania man who allegedly assaulted an OCPD officer after getting pulled over for a routine equipment repair order last December appeared in Circuit Court last week and had the charged against him dropped.

On Dec. 30, OCPD Officer Aaron Morgan stopped a vehicle at 68th Street and Coastal Highway for a safety equipment violation. During Morgan’s initial contact with the driver, later identified as Robert John Schefter, 38, of Glenrock, Pa., the officer noticed a strong odor of alcohol emanating from the interior of the vehicle. The officer also noted Schefter to be exhibiting the behavior of a person who may be intoxicated, according to his report.

During the traffic stop, Schefter admitted to having consumed some alcoholic beverages and the officer asked him if he would perform some roadside sobriety tests. Schefter declined, stating he was a designated driver. He also stated he was an attorney and that the roadside tests were “bogus.”

At that point, Morgan asked Schefter to step out of his vehicle. While Schefter was getting out of his vehicle, the officer noted he was having obvious balance problems as he tried to walk, according to the report. As a result of his observations, the officer, joined now by Officer Patrick Flynn, attempted to place Schefter under arrest for suspicion of driving while under the influence.

During the arrest process, Schefter resisted and attempted to get back into his vehicle. After a brief scuffle with the officers, Schefter was subdued and arrested. He refused medical treatment at the scene by Ocean City EMS, while the officers were not injured in the scuffle.

Schefter was charged with resisting arrest, second-degree assault on an officer, DUI, willfully disobeying a lawful order and driving on a highway without adequate rear registration plate illumination. In Circuit Court last week, Schefter had the charges against him “nolle prossed,” or not prosecuted.

Charges Dropped Against Birthday Boy

SNOW HILL – A Virginia man arrested last December on disorderly conduct and resisting arrest charges after allegedly refusing to go quietly from a mid-town Ocean City bar on his birthday after being asked to leave by security staff had the charges against him dropped last week in Circuit Court.

Shortly after 2 a.m. on Dec. 16, an OCPD officer on routine patrol observed the security staff at Fager’s Island physically removing an intoxicated man, later identified as Joshua Kevin Wanamaker, 22, of Temperanceville, Va., who was apparently getting an early start on celebrating his birthday. Wanamaker was escorted to the bottom of the ramp at the main entrance to the establishment where he was informed he was no longer welcome due to his level of intoxication.

Wanamaker, who was allegedly visibly intoxicated with slurred speech and poor balance, began to voice his displeasure with being removed from the bar. He made one attempt to go back up the ramp but was stopped by bar staff. The OCPD officer then told Wanamaker to stand quietly under the awning over the ramp or leave the premises by going out in the pouring rain. Wanamaker told the officer he did nothing wrong and also said he was going to sue the bar staff. As he made his case, he became louder and louder and used more and more vulgar language, according to police reports.

A short time later, two of Wanamaker’s friends came out and peacefully tried to get him to leave, but he fought with them and began to shout obscenities at the police officer. He also tried to fight his way past his friends in an effort to get at the police officer. Wanamaker then launched into an expletive-filled tirade on the officer and the Fager’s security staff while his friends tried to restrain him.

The OCPD officer finally interceded and attempted to place Wanamaker under arrest for disorderly conduct, but he did not go quietly. He continued his string of obscenities as he refused to be handcuffed. He was finally restrained by the officer with the help of the bar security staff. Wanamaker was charged with disorderly conduct and resisting arrest. Last week in Circuit Court, the charges against Wanamaker were dropped.

Suspended Sentence For Fighting, Pot

SNOW HILL – A Berlin man arrested in Ocean City last May on assault and marijuana possession charges last week pleaded guilty to both and was sentenced to 75 days in jail with all but 44 suspended with credit given for time already served.

On May 28, Ocean City Police responded to 4th Street and Wilmington Lane for a reported fight in progress. OCPD bicycle cops arrived on the scene just in time to observe a man pick up a lawn chair and throw it at a female victim, striking her in the head and arms. Before they could intercede, the officers observed another man, identified as Ashalom Johnson, 19, of Berlin, do the same thing to the same victim.

The officers dismounted their bikes, drew their weapons and ordered everybody involved to get down on the ground. The first suspect fled on foot and the officers gave chase, eventually subduing the man with a police baton after a brief struggle, During the struggle, one of the officers observed Johnson throw a baggie of an unidentified substance that landed a few feet away from him. A check of the baggie revealed it contained four individually wrapped bags of marijuana.

Johnson was arrested and charged with second-degree assault and possession of marijuana. Last week, he pleaded guilty to both counts and was sentenced to 75 days in jail with all but 44, which he has already served, suspended.

Shoplifting, Pot Arrests

WEST OCEAN CITY – One local woman was arrested for theft and another was arrested for possession of marijuana this week after the duo was caught shoplifting at a West Ocean City grocery store.

Maryland State Police troopers on Monday responded to the Super Fresh in West Ocean City for a reported shoplifting incident. By the time police arrive, the suspects had fled in a car, but through the investigation, officers were able to identify the suspects and their vehicle. The MSP troopers alerted Ocean City Police to be on the lookout for the vehicle and a short time later, resort police located and detained the vehicle in the area of 4th Street in Ocean City.

The passenger, identified as Krystyna Marie Strobel, 18, of Ocean City, was questioned and later arrested for the theft of merchandize from the grocery store. The various stolen items totaling around $155 were found in the 2003 Dodge Durango. Meanwhile, a search incident to the theft investigation turned up a plastic bag of marijuana and two glass-smoking devices in a purse belonging to the driver and owner of the vehicle, identified as Sarah Elizabeth Trattner, 18, of Berlin.

Strobel was charged with theft under $500 and Trattner was charged with possession of marijuana and paraphernalia. Both were taken before a District Court Commissioner and released on their own recognizance.

Traffic Stop Yields Two Arrests

BERLIN – Two men wanted in St. Mary’s County were taken into custody this week getting pulled over for speeding on Route 50 at Route 90 near Ocean Pines.

Around 7:10 p.m. on Monday, a Maryland State Police trooper pulled over a vehicle for going 74 miles per hour in a 55 mph zone on Route 50 at Route 90. A license and wanted check on the driver, identified as Thomas Erik Pinkenstein, 29, of California, Md. revealed his license was suspended for driving under the influence and he was wanted on two failure-to-appear warrants from St. Mary’s County.

A wanted check was also conducted on the passenger, identified as John Michael Chrismond, 32, of no fixed address, and revealed he was wanted on a District Court warrant and a Circuit Court warrant for theft in St. Mary’s County. Both men were arrested and taken before the District Court Commissioner in Ocean City. Pinkenstein was ordered held on a $5,000 bond for each warrant and Chrismond was ordered held on a $10,000 bond for one of his warrants. Both were held at the Worcester County Jail.

Five Injured In Route 113 Accident

NEWARK – Five people were taken to PRMC this week after a domino collision on Route 113 in Newark at the entrance to the Worcester County Board of Education headquarters.

Around 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Maryland State Police responded to a three-car accident on Route 113 near Newark. The investigation revealed a 2005 Isuzu SUV and a 1995 Mazda truck were facing southbound and attempting to turn left in the Worcester Board of Education complex. A third vehicle, a 1998 Chevy Blazer, came up on the vehicles attempting to turn and swerved to the right to avoid a collision, but did not avoid striking the Isuzu SUV.

The SUV was pushed into the Mazda truck in front of it, while the Chevy Blazer rolled over into a ditch, striking a light pole before coming to a rest. The driver of the Blazer, Rose Alexander Fooks, and her passenger, Delano A. Harmon, were taken to PRMC in Salisbury where they were treated for minor injuries.

Also injured and transported to PRMC was the driver of the Isuzu SUV, Peggy Annise Straight, and her passenger, Sandra Linthicum Schiffer, along with the driver of the Mazda truck, William Irving Warren. Fooks, the operator of the vehicle that triggered the accident, was charged with negligent driving.

Trial Date Set For Attempted Murder Suspect

SNOW HILL – A trial date has been set for the Salisbury man charged with attempted first-degree murder and other felonies following a shooting on a parking lot in West Ocean City last November.

James Labronk Brumskin, 17, of Salisbury was scheduled to appear for a motions hearing in Circuit Court last Friday but the hearing was postponed and a May 1 trial date has been laid in on the docket. Brumskin, who is being tried as an adult, is being held on attempted first-degree murder charges after police connected him to a shooting on the parking lot of Salvatore’s in West Ocean City last November.

Brumskin was arrested by WCBI detectives after the investigation connected him to the shooting.

On Nov. 10, both Brumskin and his victim, Eric Jamar Purnell, 19, of Berlin, were attending a party when the restaurant was shut down due to a minor altercation inside. The guests were leaving when Brumskin allegedly fired three shots from a small caliber handgun at Purnell as he walked across the parking lot. One of the bullets struck Purnell in the buttocks and became lodged in his groin area.

The victim was taken first to Atlantic General Hospital and later transferred to Peninsula Regional Medical Center in Salisbury for surgery. The investigation pointed to Brumskin as a suspect and he was arrested at his residence in Salisbury on Wednesday. Brumskin has since admitted being involved in the shooting of Purnell, according to police reports.